Ann Taylor Adds 30 Units

NEW YORK CITY-Women’s clothing retailer Ann Taylor opened 30 new outlets in the third quarter as profits soared 29%, to give the New York chain the best third quarter of earnings performance in the company’s history.

The upscale clothing retailer added seven Ann Taylor stores, 19 Ann Taylor LOFT stores and four Ann Taylor Factory stores to its holdings during the three months ended Oct. 28, increasing the company’s total square footage by 5.4% to 5 million sf from the 4.7 million sf it held in the same period last year.

The firm, which currently operates 856 stores under the Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor LOFT and Ann Taylor Factory banners, said profits jumped 29% in the quarter, aided by an increase in the full-price sale of more suits and dresses along with strong sales at both its brick-and-mortar stores and its online operation.